Fantasy Football Week 4: Award Roundup for Busts and MVPs

With an eye on surveying the fantasy football landscape in the wake of Week 4, we've compiled a series of awards for the best box scores, as well as the biggest busts. 

Did Chris Ivory run your team to glory this week with a huge outing in London? Or did Carlos Hyde make you want to hide from your fantasy team's results after another sluggish showing?

Each week is defined by some massive performances and some massive disappointments, all of which we seek to capture in this series. Please join us in discussing the biggest performances and busts from Week 4.

As always, feel free to share your picks for fantasy MVP and bust at each position. 

Fantasy QB MVP: Philip Rivers Produces a Big Game in San Diego

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Philip Rivers was deemed last week's biggest bust for turning in a single-digit fantasy outing in Minnesota. With a return to San Diego this week, Rivers turned in the top fantasy performance among quarterbacks in beating the Cleveland Browns. 

Rivers posted his 40th career game with at least three passing touchdowns and no interceptions, tying him with Tony Romo for the fifth most among active NFL arms, per ESPN Stats & Info. While we're much more inclined to endorse Rivers as a top option at home, the impending return of Antonio Gates with Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead thriving could combine to propel Rivers into the upper echelon of fantasy signal-callers going forward.

Drew Brees enjoyed a much-needed revival outing in beating the Dallas Cowboys at home Sunday night, with C.J. Spiller's playmaking proving to be a dangerous valve in his arsenal. Brees may not be the 5,000-yard, 40-touchdown dynamo from years past, but QB1 status is undeniable when the Saints are indoors.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford finally produced a nice fantasy line just in time for his investors to have benched him. With the Eagles offensive line struggling, we're still not sold on Bradford's fantasy stock as a weekly starter. 

Best of the Rest 

Josh McCown and Kirk Cousins are currently fourth and fifth, respectively, in fantasy production among signal-callers for Week 4. Nick Foles, Blake Bortles, Alex Smith, Brian Hoyer and Jay Cutler are all in the top 12 at the position in fantasy points this week, proving just how strange this week has been in the passing department.

Peyton Manning Struggles to Put Up Fantasy Points in Week 4

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Among NFL quarterbacks who registered at least one fantasy point in Week 4, only Ryan Mallett and Joe Flacco tallied fewer points than Peyton Manning. Given a home setting in Week 4 and increased trust from the fantasy market after several strong showings, Manning earns the distinction as our fantasy QB Bust of the Week. 

Did Tyrod Taylor let you down just when his fantasy trust seemed well-deserved? Was Derek Carr a disappointment in what was billed to be a big game in Chicago? Let us know who let you down under center this weekend.

Devonta Freeman Is Enjoying a Legendary Stretch of Fantasy Football Fun

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Finding photos of Devonta Freeman entering the end zone has proved quite easy of late, as the Florida State product became the first player to register consecutive games with three rushing touchdowns since LaDainian Tomlinson did so in 2006. 

Freeman was in rare statistical territory last week with Priest Holmes and Marshall Faulk, and now finds himself as box-score brethren with fantasy legend Tomlinson. We've run out of reasons to temper Freeman's fantasy stock; he's an RB1 given such rich usage.

The eventual return of Tevin Coleman could change things, but it's hard to imagine Freeman hasn't earned an enduring share of meaningful touches for the Falcons going forward.

Our biggest tailback bust for Week 3 was the Cincinnati Bengals' Jeremy Hill, as the bruising back was being out-touched and outproduced by backfield peer Giovani Bernard in the first several weeks. While efficiency (just 40 rushing yards) and volume (just nine carries) escaped Hill in Week 4, three touchdowns remind the market he remains, at worst, a valuable RB2 commodity. 

Chris Ivory ran all over a reeling Miami Dolphins defense that seems to have already checked out. Similarly to Hill, this was a rousing revival for Ivory's fantasy stock, as he was losing snaps to change-of-pace peer Bilal Powell in recent weeks. 

Best of the Rest 

Le'Veon Bell's Thursday performance seems like it was a while back, but we still wanted to pay homage to his immediate return to elite fantasy form. On that same night, Justin Forsett also seemed to return to form, a welcome sign as the Ravens' languid offense requires a boost. 

Meanwhile, St. Louis Rams rookie Todd Gurley produced some amazing tape in Arizona on Sunday, suggesting he might be one of the most special fantasy assets going forward this fall. Browns rookie Duke Johnson Jr. produced 116 total yards thanks to nine receptions in San Diego, and he is on the way to becoming a points-per-reception weapon if such usage is sustainable.

The Panthers' Jonathan Stewart Struggles Again in Week 4

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

I viewed Carolina Panthers ball-carrier Jonathan Stewart as having one final window in Week 4 to prove he's a worthy weekly fantasy starter with an inviting matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After another sorry showing that saw Cam Newton out-rush him once again, Stewart is demoted to merely a flex option and a matchup-dependent RB2 for the coming heavy bye weeks. 

Did Carlos Hyde leave you wanting more with his weak numbers versus the Green Bay Packers? Arian Foster's slow return to form wasn't so fun, but we should be far more excited about his upcoming Thursday night matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. 

Which backfield busts hit hardest this week?

Vincent Jackson Earns Fantasy Football MVP Honors at WR in Week 4

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

In both Week 2 and in Week 3, we witnessed eight wideouts produce at least 20 fantasy points in ESPN standard-scoring leagues. This week, just two receivers scored 20-plus fantasy points, with Vincent Jackson earning our MVP nod for hitting this valuable threshold. 

Rams receiver Tavon Austin produced the rare big game at the position for St. Louis, joining Jackson as the only other player at the position to score 20 or more fantasy points in Week 4. Given our inherent lack of trust in his usage, and thus distrust in the sustainability of his success, we're not too excited about Austin's prospects going forward. 

For Jackson, he benefited from Mike Evans being blanketed by Carolina's Josh Norman, an emerging elite cover corner. With some rousing garbage-time production, Jackson churned out one of his classic "boom" games from his long-established boom-or-bust pattern. We don't place a ton of stock in Jackson's breakout, either, but it does signal that he's capable of some big box scores when Evans is shadowed by a top cover corner.

Best of the Rest

We'd been endorsing Jacksonville's Allen Hurns as a top breakout candidate all week, so it was nice to see him produce a great game with 11 receptions, 116 yards and a touchdown. Hurns is quickly entering the WR3 tier. DeAndre "Nuk" Hopkins saw 22 targets in Week 4 and could very well lead the position in the coveted attention metric this season.

Even with Sam Bradford's Big Sunday, Jordan Matthews Is a Big Bust

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

With quarterback Sam Bradford producing the second-most fantasy points among signal-callers through Sunday night's game, it was disconcerting to see his supposed top target, Jordan Matthews, held to just five fantasy points in facing a suspect Washington secondary.

With such a weak showing in the midst of a fertile fantasy day for Bradford, Matthews earns our Bust of the Week at the position. At the same time, seeing Bradford finally push the ball vertically, and with success, should result in Matthews' stock rising from here on out. I would gladly pursue Matthews if his owner is willing to sell low after this down outing. 

In a down week at the position, Julio Jones, Antonio Brown and Randall Cobb similarly struggled, albeit in games where their quarterbacks failed to put up big box scores.

Jones was merely the focus of the Texans defensive scheme, with the running game consuming the valuable fantasy work. Brown's lack of rapport with Michael Vick limits the safety of his fantasy floor, but there were encouraging moments that saw them nearly connect for big plays this past Thursday.

Michael Beller of SI.com explained:

"

Part of the reason Brown has been an elite fantasy asset over the last few years is his connection with Roethlisberger when things break down, as well as the quarterback's willingness to stand in the pocket and extend a play. Roethlisberger never gives up on a play, which is occasionally to the Steelers’ detriment, but frequently to Brown’s benefit. Vick will give up on a play at the first sign of pressure. That’s been a knock on him his whole career, and it showed up again last week.

"

As for Cobb, he remains a surefire WR1 as Aaron Rodgers' top target.

Chicago's Martellus Bennett Earns the Top Spot Among Fantasy Tight Ends

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

With Alshon Jeffery still ailing and Jay Cutler back in the fold for the Chicago Bears in Week 4, tight end Martellus Bennett produced the top tight end score at the position. Break out the Cap'n Crunch!

It certainly helps that the Raiders have allowed an NFL-high six receiving scores to the position this season, something we can watch for in the weeks ahead when seeking favorable matchups and DFS bargains at the position. 

With Bennett coming off of a 90-reception effort in 2014, there should've been no surprise he would vault into the elite class again as long as Cutler was under center. Now that this battery is back in form, Bennett is one of the best assets at the position after Rob Gronkowski. 

We are finding some trustworthy attention for Buffalo's Charles Clay of late, as he's officially entered the TE1 tier after consecutive strong weeks with healthy usage.

Despite Alex Smith Throwing 45 Times, Travis Kelce Busts in Week 4

Gary Landers/Associated Press

Passing volume was a concern for Travis Kelce's fantasy upside heading into the season, and we're seeing the negative results of fickle and lean usage for the talented tight end. Totaling just two fantasy points in ESPN standard scoring, Kelce is our call for the Bust of the Week at the position.

With Alex Smith attempting 45 passes as the Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Bengals throughout, it was surprising to see such low usage for Kelce (seven targets). Throw in a lost fumble in addition to conservative usage, and the weak results become clear.

We're still enthused with Kelce's prospects going forward, but his blocking duties versus the Bengals pass rush might have us tempering our expectations when the team faces top pass-rushing talents. 

Who let you down at the tight end position this week?

The Atlanta Falcons D/ST Earns Fantasy MVP Honors Thanks to the Texans

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Atlanta Falcons defense produced the week's top fantasy outing in hosting the reeling Texans offense. Posting a huge early lead and teeing off on signal-callers Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer, the Falcons forced four turnovers and scored on two fumble recoveries en route to 18 fantasy points in ESPN leagues.

The Packers, Panthers and Raiders all had strong outings, with the Packers and Raiders both impressively posting strong fantasy showings on the road. At a matchup-dependent position, we're only really interested in the Panthers—buoyed by cover corner Josh Norman's ascension—as a weekly start going forward.

Did a fantasy defense save your week? Feel free to share your fantasy story below.

D/ST Busts

It's never a good sign when you would've fared better had you not started any fantasy D/ST, as the Kansas City Chiefs tallied negative fantasy production en route to earning our D/ST Bust of the Week. Both the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots had better weeks...and they were on byes. 

Despite claiming one of the league's best pass rushes and the return of talented corner Sean Smith to the lineup, the Chiefs produced the weakest fantasy outing of all groups in Week 4. 

Did the Colts let you down in what appeared to be an inviting matchup?

Should we ever use the Colts D/ST? Probably not. 

Did the playmaking Arizona Cardinals defense let you down after a disappointing Week 4? Let it out, we are here for you. 

All scoring info is courtesy of ESPN.com standard-scoring leagues.